to stretch out his hand to receive her--to resign all that made life valuable to another, and to find that other appreciated the object as little as the sacrifice--this was indeed a hard task; but Frank thought it his duty so to act, and resolved, with his usual determination and forgetfulness of self, that he would lose no opportunity of forcing upon Charlie the absolute necessity of marrying the only woman he had himself ever loved. Thus the voyage drew to a close. Contrary winds were baffled by the power of steam; the good ship stemmed the mountain waves of the Bay of Biscay, and at length the coast of England was hailed; and, though labouring in a heavy gale of wind and a cross-pitching sea, they were steaming steadily up the Channel, and congratulating themselves that to-morrow they would once more set foot on English ground. Frank and Charlie were on deck, enjoying the broken gleams of an afternoon’s sun, that shone fitfully through the mists and storm-rack driving fast overhead; and their conversation naturally enough turned upon their own plans and intentions when they should get ashore. Charlie was full of his horses and his anticipations of sport in game-preserve and hunting-field, with sundry speculations as to the state of “Haphazard’s” legs, much damaged by the never-to-be-forgotten steeple-chase; and it was with difficulty Frank could command his attention whilst he made a final effort to impress upon him the absolute necessity of his making up his mind and marrying his pretty cousin forthwith. “It’s not fair upon any one,” said Frank, holding manfully on to the mizen-topmast stay, “it’s not doing as you’d be done by, to keep a thing of this sort off and on; it’s not fair upon your family; it’s not fair upon your uncle; and, above all, it’s not fair upon Miss Kettering herself. I conceive that you are bound, as a gentleman, to make all necessary arrangements, so that the business may be concluded within a month of your arrival at Newton-Hollows.” Charlie looked rather aghast. “Well, but,” said he, “I should have to leave the regiment. You wouldn’t have me bring Blanche out to Kaffirland--poor little Blanche, she’d be frightened to death, and I know I should have to sell out--Frank, I couldn’t bear to leave the regiment. I like soldiering better than anything.”